Museums and Galleries (Northern Ireland) Order 1998

Functions of the Board N.I.

4.—(1) So far as practicable and subject to the provisions of this Order, the Board shall—

(a) care for, preserve and add to the objects in its collections;

(b) secure that the objects are exhibited to the public and assist the public by interpreting the significance of the objects;

(c) secure that the objects are available to persons seeking to inspect them in connection with study or research; and

(d) generally promote the awareness, appreciation and understanding by the public of—

(i) art, history and science;

(ii) the culture and way of life of people; and

(iii) the migration and settlement of people,

both by means of the Board's collections and by such other means as the Board considers appropriate.

(2) In carrying out its functions the Board shall have particular regard to the heritage of Northern Ireland.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the Board may, for the purposes of its functions—

(a) incur expenditure (including the purchase of any object which, in the opinion of the Board, it is desirable to acquire);

(b) accept gifts or bequests of money or objects or other property and execute any lawful trust having objects similar to those of the Board or incidental or conducive to the attainment or furtherance of any object of the Board;

(c) give assistance (including financial assistance) to bodies having functions similar to those of the Board;

(d) provide education, training, instruction and advice, and carry out research;

(e) compile and maintain an archive;

(f) co-operate with other persons or bodies;

(g) enter into contracts and other agreements;

(h) erect buildings or reconstruct existing buildings and carry out such other works as the Board may think fit;

(i) except where the terms upon which the object is held expressly provide to the contrary, lend any object for the time being vested in the Board;

(j) borrow any object for exhibition;

(k) do all such other acts (including requiring payment for services or goods provided by the Board) as appear to the Board to be necessary or expedient for the performance of all or any of the functions of the Board or as are incidental to the carrying out of those functions.

(4) In paragraph (3)(e), “archive” includes any collection of sound recordings, images or information, however stored.

(5) In deciding whether or not to lend any object in accordance with paragraph (3)(i), and in determining the time for which, and the conditions subject to which, an object is to be lent, the Board—

(a) shall give special consideration to a request for the loan of an object for public exhibition; and

(b) subject to that, shall have regard to the interests of persons visiting the Board's collections, the suitability of the prospective borrower, the purpose of the loan, the physical condition and degree of rarity of the object, and any risks to which it is likely to be exposed.

(6) The Board may allow premises occupied or managed by the Board to be used by other persons (for payment or otherwise) for purposes not connected with the functions mentioned in paragraph (1), if the Board is satisfied that to do so would not conflict unduly with those functions.

(7) The Board shall, in accordance with arrangements agreed with the Department, make provision for consultation with the bodies mentioned in paragraph (8) on the exercise by the Board of its functions.

(8) The bodies referred to in paragraph (7) are—

(a) district councils;

(b) [F1 the Education Authority] ; and

(c) such other bodies as the Department and the Board, acting jointly, may determine.

F1 Words in art. 4(8)(b) substituted (1.4.2015) by Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (c. 12), Sch. 3 para. 19 (with Sch. 2 para. 4(3)); S.R. 2015/35, art. 2(b)